Evaluation of a shared-work program for reducing assistance provided to supported workers with severe multiple...

Area of Science:

• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Disability Studies
• Applied Behavior Analysis

Background:

• Growing need to improve supported employment outcomes for individuals with significant disabilities.
• Job coaches often provide substantial assistance, potentially limiting independence.
• Existing models may not fully address the diverse needs of workers with severe multiple disabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a shared-work program designed to reduce job coach assistance.
• To assess the impact of task re-assignment on supported workers' performance.
• To determine the viability of shared work for enhancing productivity in community jobs.

Main Methods:

• Systematic observation of job task assistance provided to three workers.
• Re-assignment of task steps based on individual worker assistance levels.
• Implementation of a shared-work program within a publishing company setting.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in job coach assistance were observed.
• Initial decrease in work productivity followed by an increase to baseline levels.
• Shared-work program demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing supported work performance.

Conclusions:

• Shared-work programs offer a viable strategy for improving supported employment for individuals with severe multiple disabilities.
• Further research is needed to explore shared-work in diverse job settings.
• Development of tailored community work models for individuals with highly significant disabilities is recommended.